To be a Boy

[Mark Hoffmann]

All comments very welcome. 

To be a Boy

The two old women sipped sherry from schooners
and gossiped. 

Maude was my nan's friend. She lived in a miasma 
of cigarette smoke and wore trousers. Nan wore dresses
and smelled of peppermint.

On Saturdays I usually played with Garry,
but last week, after watching a TV western, 
I took a rope from Dad's shed, and lynched Garry
    on the climbing frame.

My defence
"But he was an outlaw!"
and
"I was gonna cut him loose."
held no sway with the mothers.

As his mum dragged him away,
Garry looked over his shoulder
and smiled at me.

Yet now, 
I had old women for gaolers.

It was like Colditz.
No, it was like The Great Escape.

"Aunty Maude …
can I play with Biff in the garden?"

Behind the garage, I gave Corporal Biff a dog biscuit
and briefed him on the plan. A tunnel formed
with hands and paws 
we crawled under the fence to freedom.

Later, I'd be in trouble for this,
but for now 
we had Nazi guards to avoid.
 

[Tim J Brennan]

All comments very welcome. To be a Boy

The two old women sipped sherry from schooners
and gossiped. 

Maude was my nan's friend. She lived in a miasma 
of cigarette smoke and wore trousers. Nan wore dresses
and smelled of peppermint.

On Saturdays I usually played with Garry,
but last week, after watching a TV western, 
I took a rope from Dad's shed, and lynched Garry
    on the climbing frame.

My defence
"But he was an outlaw!"
and
"I was gonna cut him loose."
held no sway with the mothers.

As his mum dragged him away,
Garry looked over his shoulder
and smiled at me.

Yet now, 
I had old women for gaolers.

It was like Colditz.
No, it was like The Great Escape.

"Aunty Maude …
can I play with Biff in the garden?"

Behind the garage, I gave Corporal Biff a dog biscuit
and briefed him on the plan. A tunnel formed
with hands and paws 
we crawled under the fence to freedom.

Later, I'd be in trouble for this,
but for now 
we had Nazi guards to avoid.

Talking to an old movie buff here (e.g. Great Escape, YES!!).  And "miasma"...my God, man. I haven't heard that word since all the prisoners were either killed or recaptured. Except for Danny and Willie and Sedgwick. 

Enjoyed the narrative form here.  

[Amie]

Made me smile

Though girls play those games too. Maybe without the lynching - but I remember pretending all the neighbours were undercover Nazis whose plots we had to foil before dinner time

[Colm Roe]

Brilliant Mark.
Really entertaining